Paper Submission Information

Technical Program

The technical program will feature technical paper and poster presentations structured around 15 technical tracks. Nowhere else will you get the depth and breadth of sessions and information-sharing on space systems, technologies, and programs! AIAA is soliciting abstracts for paper or poster presentations on the following technical topics:

Questions pertaining to the technical program may be referred to the SPACE 2013 Technical Program Chairs Randy Kendall at randolph.l.kendall@aero.org and John Chobany at john.chobany@aero.org, or to the appropriate Track Chair listed below.

Abstract Requirements

While there is no required abstract length, 200-500 words is recommended.

Proposals for Special Sessions

Individuals who wish to organize special sessions within the technical program (e.g., invited oral presentations, panels, or demonstrations) should submit a short proposal describing the nature of the session as it relates to a specified technical track. Be sure to include the names of the organizers and proposed participants. Please email your proposal by 17 January 2013 to Randy Kendall, SPACE 2013 Technical Program Co-Chair, at randolph.l.kendall@aero.org.

Technical Topics

The established community of commercial space companies tracing their lineage to the mid-1960s is being joined by an emerging new group of entrepreneurs. These “New Space” companies have characteristics very different from their predecessors, and creative partnerships between the old and the new are developing. The Commercial Space track is soliciting papers that document the various aspects of emerging commercial space sectors and their collaboration with the established commercial space community. Discussions of New Space successes and challenges encompass a large number of topic areas, including:

Papers are sought on applications of intelligent systems across the space domain to include spacecraft operations, spacecraft autonomy, space system monitoring, and adaptive response. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

The Nanosats and Smallsats track seeks to present important findings from recent work on emerging design, development, implementation, and applications of satellites with wet mass between 1-10kg, typically defined as "nanosats,” or less than 500kg, typically defined as "smallsats." Papers are sought on technical, operational, and economic feasibility of systems that address the full range of civil scientific, military, and international applications. Papers by students are especially encouraged. Technical topics include:

This track will explore robotic technologies for orbital and planetary surface applications and space architectures, including systems supporting robotic construction techniques. Abstracts are being solicited on the following technical topics:

The goal of space colonization is to create permanent human settlements beyond Earth. A logical implementation approach to would be to develop outposts and colonies in key locations in space (e.g., Lagrange points) and on the moon, near-Earth asteroids, and Mars, as technological advances enable progressively more ambitious missions. The Apollo missions demonstrated that humans can land on and explore other bodies in our solar system. The Shuttle and ISS missions demonstrate that humans can live and work in LEO for extended periods of time. Humanity is ready for exciting and challenging exploration missions beyond LEO that will open the door for future expansion into the solar system. The development of advanced science and technologies needed for space settlements will help humanity improve life on Earth and shape a better future. Space tethers show great promise for enabling a variety of future space missions, both as engineering components and as scientific components. Applications of space tethers include propulsion, space structures, remote sensing, and artificial gravity, among others. To date, several tethered missions have flown and many more have been proposed for flight. This track will include missions enabled and the technologies necessary for exploiting the use of space tethers.

Papers are invited that address the following topics related to space colonization:

Drivers: Desires for exploration, commerce, tourism, and adventure

Destinations: Space, the moon, asteroids, and Mars, including missions

Supported by NASA Headquarters and the AIAA Space Exploration Program Committee

The Space Exploration track spans mission architectures, advanced technologies, and flight systems to enable robotic precursor and human exploration missions to the moon, Lagrange points, Near Earth Objects (NEOs), and Mars and its moons. Abstracts are being solicited on the following topics:

Supported by the AIAA International Activities Committee, the AIAA History Technical Committee, the AIAA Legal Aspects of Aeronautics and Astronautics Technical Committee, and the AIAA Society and Aerospace Technology Technical Committee

The Space History, Society, and Policy Track examines the history of our time in space, space law and policy, international cooperation, the societal impacts of aerospace technologies and an educated and trained workforce, and the evolution of our space-faring society. Topics addressed include:

The History of Aerospace – Legacy and Lessons Learned: Collection, preservation, and analysis of historical materials related to spaceflight and space technology, manned space programs, launch systems, unmanned programs – with an emphasis on understanding the significance of people and organizations, programs, facilities, and infrastructure

Space Law and Policy: Current and emerging policy and legal issues affecting space acquisition, operations, sustainment, and the future of space activities; national space policies of the United States, other countries, and the United Nations; the U.S. National Space Strategy; liabilities and legal obligations associated with space debris and end-of-life and orbital operations; space warfare; insurance, contracting, and liability issues; jamming threats and telecommunications regulation, and legal institutions

International Cooperation: Risks and opportunities of cooperative engagement; recognizing and surmounting legal impediments to cooperation, including ITAR and technology transfer control regimes; successful and unsuccessful international approaches to acquiring, organizing, operating, and sustaining space systems; international institutions

Space Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) perspectives: Shortfalls in the space workforce's STEM education and training, and their impact; and policy, programmatic and economic solutions to education and workforce shortfalls

Interactions with Society: Impact of space systems on communication, trade, and access to information; the impact of space systems and technology on global emergency response to disasters or acts of terrorism; space stakeholder risk tolerance and perceptions; analyses of the intangible benefits of spaceflight and of space themes in media and literature

In addition, this track will host a Best Student Paper Competition. Submitted and accepted papers by student authors will be presented within a session of the Space History, Society, and Policy track. Papers will be judged based on merit with the winning paper(s) receiving a certificate and a monetary award. For further information, including the complete rules and guidelines of the competition, please visit the SATTC Web site at https://info.aiaa.org/tac/ETMG/SATTC/, or contact the competition administrator, Brad Steinfeldt, at bsteinfeldt@gatech.edu.

Space logistics is the theory and practice of driving space system design for operability, and of managing the flow of materiel, services, and information needed throughout a space system lifecycle. It includes management of the logistics supply chain from Earth and on to destinations throughout the solar system. Supportability considers system architecture strategies to minimize both logistics requirements and operational costs of human and robotic operations. Supportability strategies include processes and technologies to minimize maintenance complexity, exploit in-situ resources, scavenge and reuse flight hardware, and recycle consumables. Representative areas include the servicing and sustainment of the International Space Station and of lunar and planetary outposts, the optimization of logistics launch vehicles for responsiveness and serviceability, and modeling of the supply chain in space for human and robotic mission campaigns. Technical topics include:

Utilization of the natural resources found in space offers a uniquely sustainable approach to space exploration. By leveraging available materials on planetary bodies, the constraining supply chain can be broken. The Space Resources Track will examine alternatives to the classic resupply challenge by providing many of the needed commodities for human and robotic sustainment using locally available resources. The current focus on multiple exploration destinations has renewed interest in the resources of Mars and near-Earth objects. Papers are solicited on all aspects of the resource utilization cycle, from prospecting and precursor missions through production, storage, and delivery. Technical topics include:

The Space Systems and Sensors track seeks to present important findings from recent work on emerging space systems, space science, and sensor technologies. In particular, papers are sought that address technical, operational, and economic feasibility of current and future space systems that address the full range of civil, military, and international applications. Papers by students are especially encouraged. Technical topics include:

The role of systems engineering in space programs has become more important as systems have become increasingly complex, architectures have become expansive, and integration across architectures has become commonplace and essential. As the utilization of space increases, driven by technological advances and mission need, the cost and economics of space will remain a formidable challenge. These challenges can be met by analyzing data and developing models to clarify the best value and key economic insights for decision makers. A goal of the systems engineering and space economics community is to develop and apply capabilities to facilitate robust future space systems. Aspects of systems engineering and space economics that may be included in this track are:

Supported by the AIAA Reusable Launch Vehicle Program Committee and the AIAA Space Transportation Technical Committee

The success of all space endeavors—military, scientific, exploration, and commercial—depends upon low-cost, highly reliable access to space. Since the retirement of the Space Shuttle, current worldwide space deployments are achieved through expendable launch vehicles (ELVs). New emerging space companies have offered the promise of low-cost space access, and some of them are proceeding with development and testing efforts. NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Demonstration Program is designed to demonstrate low-cost, reliable commercial cargo delivery, and potentially crew delivery, to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA has contracted for ISS Commercial Resupply Services for resupply and return of ISS cargo. NASA’s human exploration program promises to continue the U.S. civilian human spaceflight effort by developing and operating new vehicle systems for human exploration of the solar system. Within the U.S. DoD, reusable launch vehicle (RLV) activity is gaining momentum with the Air Force's technology development activities for a reusable first stage. Papers are invited that address the issues and challenges associated with space transportation. Papers may be submitted within, but are not limited to, the following categories: